Greg Freeman's NO PICNIC to get World Premiere at the Tabard Theatre, Chiswick

NO PICNIC

The playwright and creative team behind the Time Out Critics' Choice productions of Doig The Musical With No Singing, No Dancing and Very Little Music and Beak Street, return to the Tabard Theatre to present the world premiere of Greg Freeman's No Picnic, an allegorical comedy that explores the crisis of conscience of teddy bears, from March 20 - April 7.

Press Night is Thursday March 22 at 7.30pm

Invited to a picnic in the woods, Alfie, Ludovic and Julius witness a disturbing incident that seriously alters their existence. In an unreal world that meets reality, three cuddly teddy bears who cannot lie and a weird doll that can, embark on a precarious journey to save their skins.

No Picnic, designed and directed by Ken McClymont marks the third Greg Freeman show at the Tabard Theatre following the seminal critical smashes of Doig and Beak Street.

The cast includes:

Helen Russell Clark is best known for playing Jem Costello in Hollyoaks. She was last seen on stage in Tom Eyen's The White Whore and The Bit Player at The Rosemary Branch “Engrossing performance” British Theatre Guide (January 2011). Her other roles include Zhou Jie in Branded (Old Vic).

Eddie Elks is an actor/writer/director who most recently performed in acclaimed Stalag Happy (National Tour) with Dan Frost. He wrote and directed the critically acclaimed Botallack O'Clock at the Half Moon, Herne Hill Time Out Five Stars Critics' Choice and mentioned in Time Out's Pick of 2011 Best Fringe plays. Theatre includes; Alfie (lead role, National Tour), The Dice House, Cold Comfort Farm, Much Ado About Nothing, What's Your Poison? and Mojo. Film & TV includes; Holby City, Voyages of Discovery and Simon & Emily.

Dan Frost recently played artist Roger Hilton Botallack O'Clock. Theatre includes playing his own Grandfather, Sir Terrry Frost, in Stalag Happy. Other theatre includes: Durang Durang, Cabin Fever and Othellophobia.

More cast to be announced.

Greg Freeman adapted the only ever successful UK version of an American Sitcom, Who's The Boss, which became The Upper Hand on ITV. He has since developed a career in the theatre. His writing credits include Doig and Beak Street (Tabard Theatre), Last Bus to Paradise (Underbelly, co-wrote and winner of the London New Play Festival) Take (Old Red Lion) Kathmandu (Menier Chocolate Factory and Pleasance Edinburgh) and Wake Up and Smell the Coffee (New End Theatre). In 2011 there were three separate productions of Doig in Germany - The Zimmer Theatre, Heidelberg (over 100 performances), The Combinale Theater, Lubeck, Waggonhalle Kulturzentrum, Marburg. 28th Jan 2012 new production opens in Junges Theatre Gottingen. Productions are also planned for Austria and Switzerland.

Ken McClymont directed and designed Greg Freeman's previous shows, Doig and Beak Street. He is the former Artistic Director of The Old Red Lion Theatre in Islington. Whilst there he directed over 30 premieres, including Waiting for the Angels, Murder In Bridgport, Diaspora Jigs and Life After Life. Revivals include: A Chaste Maid In Cheapside and The Slab Boys, which won Best Production of a Comedy Award (LFA). In 1989-90 he won an Outstanding Contribution to Fringe Theatre Award for programming of an exceptional standard at the Old Red Lion.

This play is not suitable for children

'Theatre that from concept to execution is

utterly bonkers but quite brilliant'

Time Out Critics’ Choice for Doig

'A testament to Freeman's faith in his

imagination and ours'

Time Out Critics’ Choice for Beak Street

Listings information

No Picnic

Tabard Theatre

2 Bath Road

London